Notes: Montreal's Catholic cemetery, Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery, was founded in 1854. Many Italian-Montrealers who died in the first half of the 20th century can be found buried here. For more information visit: www.cimetierenddn.org.
Photo: Mary Melfi.

Notes: On the Day of the Dead, November 2nd, it was the custom in Italy prior to World War II to go to church and attend the Mass of the Dead, and afterwards to visit the cemetery and place flowers on the graves of loved ones who passed away. In North America (as in present-day Italy) most individuals don't have time to do either. Some North Americans of Italian origin visit the cemetery on the anniversary of their loved one's death, others follow rituals they learned from other cultures, such as those practiced by Mexicans or the Chinese. Generally, North Americans do not like to dwell on matters related to death.
Photo: Mary Melfi.

Notes: North Americans often plant perennials on the burial grounds of the deceased. Many North American cemeteries are so beautiful that those who live near them often use them as parks where they take strolls in or jog.
Photo: Mary Melfi.

Notes: Most North Americans of Italian origin prefer their dearly departed to be contained in mausoleums rather than to be buried underground. Prior to World War II most Italian small towns and villages offered spaces in open-air mausoleums at a relatively low cost. At the time it was the custom for Italians to buy their resting places when they were still quite young and healthy (In essence Italians "invented" the pre-paid funeral plan). In the late 1970s Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery in Montreal began to build mausoleums to better service the Italian community.
Photo: Mary Melfi.